Our dear friend Chris asked us for a Christmas playlist, what with the holidays coming up. We just posted one on iTunes; it’s called “Chris’s Christmas.” If you do want to check it out or buy songs on it, go to iMix and search for “Chris’s Christmas” by most recent. With any luck you’ll find it among the endless Christmas schlock.

Here’s the list:

1. “Frosty the Snowman” by The Ronettes
2. “White Christmas” by The Drifters
3. “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan
4. “Christmas in New Orleans” by Louis Armstrong
5. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” by Dean Martin
6. “Silent Night” by The Temptations
7. “Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys
8. “Jingle Bells” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
9. “Santa Claus, Santa Claus” by James Brown
10. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon
11. “Fairytale of New York” by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues
12. “River” by Joni Mitchell
13. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland
14. “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” by Billie Holiday
15. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Ray Charles and Betty Carter
16. “Presents for Christmas” by Solomon Burke
17. “Go Tell It On the Mountain” by Mahalia Jackson
18. “Linus and Lucy” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
19. “Joy to the World” by Whitney Houston

Hey, thanks! That was quick! I will definitely buy this album — though I don’t know what this iMix thing is — is it possibly peculiar to Apples?

I made one a few years ago that was strictly carols. Most of them weren’t so great, since it’s hard to find interesting takes on Christmas carols. But I do like the Barenaked Ladies’ “I Saw Three Ships,” and also Crash Test Dummies’ “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Also some interesting Bluegrass instrumentals . . .